The weather played a big part in proceedings last week, with several Craven League matches failing to reach a conclusion.

First Division leaders Embsay were thwarted at Skipton CI. The home side set their stall out to bat all 45 overs.

This they did, reaching 99-5 at the close, Nick Williamson and Simon Bates both ending up on 32 not out. The rain arrived to halt proceedings before the visitors could start their reply.

The lead at the top is now down to one point as Oakworth managed to beat the weather and bottom side Foulridge in a high scoring game.

The Noyna side battled to 191-9 in their overs with Tom Stephenson top scoring with 43 not out as C Mooney took 8-71. The home side were in danger of being embarrassed as they had only reached 101-3 in the 31st over.

However they knocked off the runs for the loss of six wickets with just eight balls remaining. Michael Scarborough (69), pictured, and Jamie Pennington put on 56 for the fifth wicket. Mark Price added an invaluable 30.

Haworth blasted 209 at Pendle Forest with Gary Binns making 55 and Richard Powell 46, Andy Townsend being the best bowler with 3-41. The Fence side had reached 91-2 when stumps were drawn, A Ali making 52 before retiring hurt.

Long Lee put up some stiff resistance at home to Barrowford. They batted first and had reached 119-3 in the 38th over when play ceased. James Wilkinson made 42.

Thornton had every reason to be disappointed with the weather, as they had smashed 139-2 off Cowling's attack in only 28 overs, Kev Pollard scoring 59 and Paul Ellis 33 not out. When the rain arrived the square was left awash.

Haworth WE take over top slot of the Second Division after a comprehensive 138-run victory over visitors Airedale. The Bronte side rattled up 205-5 in their innings with Tim Welch scoring a super 103 and Andy Parker chipping in with 44.

The Keighley side were brushed aside for just 67 with Andy Benfield finishing with 5-37.

Sutton were left with a dilemma towards the end of their innings at home to neighbours Glusburn. Chasing 122 in a time limit game, they were 98-8. Did they go for glory or settle for a point?

They chose the latter, batted out time and reached 104-8 at the close. J Reape (24) and Alan Robertson (5-36) were the main contributors for Sutton while Mark Pickles with 3-10 and 20 was the mainstay for the visitors.

Sutton are in second place after the surprise defeat of front-runners Ingrow St Johns at Denholme.

The home side batted first and scored 150 after being 90-1. David Wear top scored with 51 and fourth change bowler H Ibrahim took 7-35 in 10.4 overs.

The reply was also going along nicely at 93-3 before the last seven wickets crashed for the addition of just six runs. Wasim made 30 as D Taylor took 4-29 and Gareth Marshall 3-8 in 7 overs.

There was a nail biter at Carleton where Chatburn, batting first, made 184-4 before declaring in the 38th over. Skipper Steve Procter made 84 and Richard Shovelton 43 not out.

With his side battling against time Shovelton took 5-20 and John Lockley 3-50 to take them to the brink of victory. However the last pair held out on 116-9 when play stopped.

Ingrow shot visitors Gargrave out for 56 thanks mainly to Ian Wilce who finished with 6-13. The Keighley side knocked off the runs for the loss of threewickets.

J Nelson's took the spoils by just eight runs at home to Cononley.

Third Division leaders Embsay's plan to make headway against Skipton CI at Shires Lane hit the buffers when they lost the toss and were put into bat.

On a slow wicket runs were hard to come by. Despite an opening partnership of 66 by Brian Hodgson and Alan Robinson (24), the leaders did not feel they could safely declare around the 35th over when the score was 135.

It was only in the last ten overs when runs came freely as Hodgson made his way to 98 not out and Nasir Hussain blasted an unbeaten 51 to see the total to 192-1.

All the deliberating would have come to nothing anyway as the rain arrived to curtail play after only seven overs of the visitors' innings when they had progressed to 17-2.

The gap at the top is now down to seven points as Barrowford entertained Long Lee and beat them by seven wickets. The Keighley side made a modest 103 in their knock with skipper Paul McCullough top scoring with 36 not out.

Best bowling was by Nigel Jones with 4-27 as Peter Hakin and Kevin Lyons took three wickets apiece. Ian Bothell with 48 was the mainstay of the successful reply.

Cullingworth are third after being thwarted by the rain. They had clattered 183-6 at Bradley with N Nunn scoring 83. The home side had replied with 65-2.

There was a remarkable transformation at Cowling were visitors Thornton recovered from 6-6 to make 100. This was thanks mainly to evergreen Malc Holt who made 59 as Mark Batty took 5-32 and Ray Tunnacliffe 4-17. Holt then had enough energy left to take 4-16 to go with Jeff Tippler's 5-16 as the homesters were brushed aside for just 37.

Oakworth warmed up for the Cowling Cup semi final by blasting 204-7 at Glusburn. Luke Scott led the way with 36 aided by Drew Duffey (35). The latter then claimed 4-23 in 7.4 overs to help the home side back to the pavilion for 143, with M Johnston top scoring with 34.

Pendle Forest were dismissed for a miserable 56 at Haworth., with Dave Walsh (5-29) and Derek Bright (5-17) doing the damage. Colin Williamson (34no) helped the Bronte side to the points by six wickets.

Ingrow St John's lead is now six points at the top of the Fourth Division after seeing off Denholme by 116 runs. The Saints galloped to 168-7 in their innings with Adrian Hargreaves leading the way on 53 as P Poole took 4-46. Mehrban with 4-15 helped the visitors out for 52 in reply.

Second placed Airedale - at home to Keighley TC - was the only game not to make a start. This inactivity sees them drop to third place behind Chatburn who rolled over Long Lee III by ten wickets.

The Keighley side could only muster 60 with no batsman making double figures, extras being top scorer with 18 as Geoff Lambert took 4-11 and Russell Braithwaite 3-19. Simon Tomlinson blasted 51 not out as the Ribble Valley side cantered home.

Cononley went down by seven wickets at home to Pendle Forest III.

Finally Foulridge gained three points when Sutton were unable to raise a second team.